Idea Development

Intro
What Even Is Innovation?
Lean Startup & Design Thinking
Teamwork That Works
Understanding the Market
Customer Discovery & Interviews
Mapping the Journey
Your First Challenge
Designing the Right Solution
Prototyping Your Idea
Testing & Feedback
Pitch Like a Pro

Teamwork That Works

Because even superheroes don’t save the world alone. Behind every great startup is a team that knows how to balance chaos with collaboration, risk with trust, and "we have no clue what we're doing" with "let's figure it out anyway." Let’s talk about building and working in a great startup team.

01

Roles in a Startup Team

Startups are messy. Fast. Unpredictable. You’ll make decisions quickly, wear many hats, and sometimes work out of cafés, basements, or classrooms. Having a strong, diverse, and aligned team makes all the difference. Because when the going gets weird, the weird (aka your team) need to get going — together.

02

Roles in a Startup Team

Here's a look at some typical startup roles. (Don’t panic — you don’t need all of them on Day 1.)

CEO / Vision Lead

Big picture thinker, decision-maker, the one who pulls the team forward.

Product Lead

Manages the actual thing you're building. Listens to users. Plans features.

Technical Lead / Developer

Builds the product, app, platform, or prototype. Makes it real.

Marketing / Comms

Gets the word out. Builds the brand. Talks to the world.

Operations / Hustler

Keeps things moving. Schedules. Emails. Budgets. Hustles.

Wildcard

Fills in the gaps. Learns fast. Does a bit of everything. Often YOU.
💡
Pro Tip:  Early-stage startup roles are fluid. Don’t box people in too early. Instead, ask: “What are you excited to own?”
03

The Team Canvas: Your Secret Weapon

The Team Canvas is a tool to help your team:

  • Get aligned;

  • Know your shared goals;

  • Understand each other’s strengths and values.

Key sections include:

  • Purpose & Values.

  • Roles & Skills

  • Rules & Expectations

  • Strengths & Weaknesses

  • Needs & Concerns

You’ll fill this in during a workshop or team session — or download a copy and try it yourself.

04

Activity: Build Your Dream Team

💡

Step 1: Imagine your startup idea is real.

Who do you need around you to bring it to life?

🚀

Step 2: Create your team lineup.

Assign the roles from above to your current team (or ideal future team). Who’s the visionary? The builder? The customer whisperer?

🦸‍♂️

Step 3: Reflect as a group

  • What are your team’s combined strengths?

  • What might you be missing?

  • What values will hold you together when things get tough?

🗂
Optional: Use the Team Canvas template to organise these answers visually.
05

Real Talk

  • Good teams don’t avoid conflict — they handle it well;

  • Communication beats perfection. Every time;

  • The best startup teams feel like mini-communities. Build trust early;

  • Celebrate wins, share stress, and eat snacks together when possible.

06

Key Takeaways

✅
Startup teams are diverse, dynamic, and often messy — and that’s OK
✅
Everyone has a role, but flexibility is key
✅
The Team Canvas helps keep you aligned
✅
A great idea with poor teamwork will likely fail — but a good team can pivot into greatness